In December 1881 the Texas and Pacific Railway linked to the [[Southern Pacific Railroad|Southern Pacific Railroad]] in Sierra Blanca, [[Portal:Texas|Texas]] to create the third [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcontinental_railroad transcontinental railroad] line in the [[United States|United States]] by connecting St. Louis (via Texarkana) to Los Angeles. Settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the railroads provided access to markets. Railroads encouraged settlement along their routes to help increase the need for their service. If an ancestor settled near a railroad, you may be able to trace their place of origin back to another place along the [[Image:T&P Marshall Texas Depot.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Texas and Pacific Depot at Marshall, Texas. This depot built 1911-1912.]]tracks.

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In December 1881 the Texas and Pacific Railway linked to the [[Southern Pacific Railroad|Southern Pacific Railroad]] in Sierra Blanca, [[Texas]] to create the third [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcontinental_railroad transcontinental railroad] line in the [[United States|United States]] by connecting St. Louis (via Texarkana) to Los Angeles. Settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the railroads provided access to markets. Railroads encouraged settlement along their routes to help increase the need for their service. If an ancestor settled near a railroad, you may be able to trace their place of origin back to another place along the [[Image:T&P Marshall Texas Depot.jpg|thumb|right|400px]]tracks.

=== Historical Background ===

=== Historical Background ===

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The Texas and Pacific Railway started in Marshall, [[Portal:Texas|Texas]] and built track from Texarkana, [[Portal:Arkansas|Arkansas]]&nbsp;to Dallas, Texas&nbsp;in 1873. The Texarkana terminal was important because it gave the T&amp;P access to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis,_Iron_Mountain_and_Southern_Railway St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern] tracks to St. Louis, [[Portal:Missouri|Missouri]]&nbsp;and much larger markets. T&amp;P extented their tracks to Fort Worth, Texas&nbsp;in 1876. In a burst in 1881 their tracks connected to the tracks of the [[Southern Pacific Railroad|Southern Pacific Railroad from California]] at Sierra Blanca, Texas, creating the third transcontinental service in the United States. The next year, 1882, T&amp;P built into New Orleans, [[Portal:Louisiana|Louisiana]].<ref>"History" in ''Texas and Pacific Railroad Museum'' at www.marshalldepot.org/History.htm (accessed 4 July 2009).</ref> Texas and Pacific also came to control many tracks in [[Portal:Oklahoma|Oklahoma]].

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The Texas and Pacific Railway started in Marshall, [[Texas]] and built track from Texarkana, [[Arkansas|Arkansas]]&nbsp;to Dallas, Texas&nbsp;in 1873. The Texarkana terminal was important because it gave the T&amp;P access to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis,_Iron_Mountain_and_Southern_Railway St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern] tracks to St. Louis, [[Missouri]]&nbsp;and much larger markets. T&amp;P extented their tracks to Fort Worth, Texas&nbsp;in 1876. In a burst in 1881 their tracks connected to the tracks of the [[Southern Pacific Railroad|Southern Pacific Railroad from California]] at Sierra Blanca, Texas, creating the third transcontinental service in the United States. The next year, 1882, T&amp;P built into New Orleans, [[Louisiana]].<ref>"History" in ''Texas and Pacific Railroad Museum'' at www.marshalldepot.org/History.htm (accessed 4 July 2009).</ref> Texas and Pacific also came to control many tracks in [[Oklahoma]].

=== Settlers and Records ===

=== Settlers and Records ===

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Settlers who used the Texas and Pacific Railway would most likely have come from [[Portal:Illinois|Illinois]], [[Portal:Iowa|Iowa]], [[Portal:Missouri|Missouri]], [[Portal:Arkansas|Arkansas]], [[Portal:Louisiana|Louisiana]], [[Portal:Oklahoma|Oklahoma]], or [[Portal:Texas|Texas]]. They most likly would have settled in [[Portal:Texas|Texas]], [[Portal:Oklahoma|Oklahoma]], [[Portal:New Mexico|New Mexico]], [[Arizona|Arizona]], or [[Portal:California|California]].

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Settlers who used the Texas and Pacific Railway would most likely have come from [[Illinois]], [[Iowa]], [[Missouri]], [[Arkansas|Arkansas]], [[Louisiana]], [[Oklahoma]], or [[Texas]]. They most likely would have settled in [[Texas]], [[Oklahoma]], [[New Mexico|New Mexico]], [[Arizona|Arizona]], or [[California|California]].

No known passenger lists for the Texas and Pacific Railway exist.

No known passenger lists for the Texas and Pacific Railway exist.

Line 17:

Line 17:

A typical transcontinental route using the Texas and Pacific line included:

A typical transcontinental route using the Texas and Pacific line included:

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*St. Louis, [[Portal:Missouri|Missouri]]

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*St. Louis, [[Missouri]]

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*Texarkana, [[Portal:Arkansas|Arkansas]]

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*Texarkana, [[Arkansas|Arkansas]]

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*Marshall, [[Portal:Texas|Texas]]

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*Marshall, [[Texas]]

*Dallas, Texas

*Dallas, Texas

*Fort Worth, Texas

*Fort Worth, Texas

*El Paso, Texas

*El Paso, Texas

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*Deming,[[Portal:New Mexico|New Mexico]]

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*Deming,[[New Mexico|New Mexico]]

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*Tucson, [[Portal:Arizona|Arizona]]

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*Tucson, [[Arizona|Arizona]]

*Yuma, Arizona

*Yuma, Arizona

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*Los Angeles, [[Portal:California|California]]

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*Los Angeles, [[California|California]]

=== Internet Links ===

=== Internet Links ===

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[http://www.marshalldepot.org/index2.htm Texas and Pacific Railway Museum] - history and photos

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*[http://www.marshalldepot.org/index2.htm Texas and Pacific Railway Museum] - history and photos

[[Category:Migration_Routes|Texas and Pacific]] [[Category:United_States_Migration_Internal|Texas and Pacific]] [[Category:US_Migration_Railroads|Texas and Pacific]] [[Category:Texas|Texas and Pacific]] [[Category:Arkansas|Texas and Pacific]] [[Category:Louisiana|Texas and Pacific]] [[Category:Oklahoma|Texas and Pacific]]

[[Category:Migration_Routes|Texas and Pacific]] [[Category:United_States_Migration_Internal|Texas and Pacific]] [[Category:US_Migration_Railroads|Texas and Pacific]] [[Category:Arizona|Texas and Pacific]]

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[[Category:Arkansas|Texas and Pacific]]

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[[Category:California|Texas and Pacific]]

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[[Category:Louisiana|Texas and Pacific]]

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[[Category:Missouri|Texas and Pacific]]

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[[Category:Oklahoma|Texas and Pacific]]

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[[Category:New Mexico|Texas and Pacific]]

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[[Category:Texas|Texas and Pacific]]

Revision as of 18:25, 16 December 2010

In December 1881 the Texas and Pacific Railway linked to the Southern Pacific Railroad in Sierra Blanca, Texas to create the third transcontinental railroad line in the United States by connecting St. Louis (via Texarkana) to Los Angeles. Settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the railroads provided access to markets. Railroads encouraged settlement along their routes to help increase the need for their service. If an ancestor settled near a railroad, you may be able to trace their place of origin back to another place along the

tracks.

Contents

Historical Background

The Texas and Pacific Railway started in Marshall, Texas and built track from Texarkana, Arkansas to Dallas, Texas in 1873. The Texarkana terminal was important because it gave the T&P access to the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern tracks to St. Louis, Missouri and much larger markets. T&P extented their tracks to Fort Worth, Texas in 1876. In a burst in 1881 their tracks connected to the tracks of the Southern Pacific Railroad from California at Sierra Blanca, Texas, creating the third transcontinental service in the United States. The next year, 1882, T&P built into New Orleans, Louisiana.[1] Texas and Pacific also came to control many tracks in Oklahoma.